It never ceases to amaze me how fast time goes especially when you get older. It just seems like yesterday the kids got out of school and swimming pools were opening. Summer was beginning! Now we are starting a new school.
With the start of the new school year, it means we have a new crop of Freshmen going into high school. While all grades in high schools have to focus on certain things, Freshmen are who I want to talk to directly today. This is a topic that really hits home this year as my son will be a Freshman.
Here are a few things that I think Freshmen should know and concentrate on this year in high school:
1. Get off to a good start with your grades -You might hear the saying “NOW IT COUNTS”. When Colleges look at your high school GPA (Grade Point Average) they are going to be looking at all 4 years. So the grades you get as a Freshman do matter
2. Start an Activity Resume - Keep track of all your extracurricular activities and work experiences throughout high school. Many college and scholarship applications will require one.
3. Take Assessments that will help you Explore Careers- You might have done this in middle school but exploring careers should be a continuous process. www.ACTProfile.org is one website that allows you to do this.
4. Explore College Options- Even though you are just starting your high school, it is a good idea to check out college options. www.CollegeRaptor.com is one website to explore your options. Learn about types of degrees, admissions requirements, major programs and more. Never too early to begin gathering information on colleges.
5. Talk to Parents/Trusted Adults about your Future Plans – You can ask them about their careers and college experiences. There are many families that don’t start this conversation until Senior year in high school. Start early! The more time you prepare, the better prepared you will be. But also the more time you give yourself to be prepared, the less stressful it will be.
These 5 tips are not the only things Freshmen should do this year. Here is a link to our Freshman/Sophomore calendar that has more tips month by month to help students and our Freshman Transitions Guide that goes into more detail to get Freshmen off to a good start in High School:
Freshman/Sophomore Calendar- http://www.icansucceed.org/documents/filelibrary/materials_library/ICANCountdownCalendarFrSo28101129_6ACE019CE4834.pdf
Freshman Guide - http://www.icansucceed.org/documents/filelibrary/materials_library/ICANHighSchoolSuccessWeb_D6DC041C51B7A.pdf
Good luck to all the Freshmen (and Freshmen parents). Hope you get off to a good start and have a wonderful Freshman year!
Erick - ICAN Ankeny Center
